The grasshoppers are simply a plague this year; they devoured our pepper plants, and are taking a liking to my herb seedlings. Unfortunately, the Chinese red sage was their favorite, and not a single tender little plant is left. I will have to cover up the rest of the seedlings if we are to have any kind of crop.

The astragalus seed arrived, and I will plant them in the next day or so. My window of opportunity for planting is narrow now with the first frost date in October. All of the herbs are perennials, but they will need time to germinate and harden off before any heavy freezes. Astragalus is a vetch, and looks like many of the wild vetches that grow here in North Carolina. Unfortunately, there are not common medicinal values and uses known about our local vetch. We use astragalus in our immune system formula, Chi energy formulas, and cancer formula as it is endowed with polysaccharides that support the immune system and the production of T cells.

Husband Bill is busy building new shelves for the new line of products for Swan Creek Farm. It's fun launching a new product line, and my time is a bit crunched with 'the season' approaching quickly. Around here, it already feels like Christmas with boxes of essential oils, packaging, and ribbons arriving daily. I think the acupressure kits, therapeutic baths, and meditation candles will be well received.

The Nature of Farming

Driving by the local wine vineyards earlier this morning, it was reassuring to see the vines hanging low with abundant plump grape clusters; last year at this time, there were but a few shriveled grapes on those same vines. I view farming and agricultural pursuits as the oldest form of legal gambling. My late father-in-law was a tobacco farmer here in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and when asked what he would do with the millions if he won the lottery, he replied, “I’d keep farming ‘til it’s all spent”. It’s easy to become addicted to the plants, and the earth, and interacting with the fickle seasons.

The rain continued through the night with thunder showers around 3AM; the rain gauge measured 2.5 inches this morning. We have grown accustomed to the dry conditions that have dominated the last two years and it seems unusual to see water puddles throughout the property. My two little ponds are full to the brim, and the cool rain drops have revived my weary fish.

With the promised moisture imminently approaching, I thought to sprinkle some lettuce seeds and beet seeds in to a prepared bed. The potted herb seedlings seemed to benefit from the steady rainfall. I was disappointed to see that the germination rate of the astragalus was very low, and will have to order seeds from a new supplier before the temperatures drop to low to germinate the seeds.

Welcome Rain

This morning we woke to a steady drizzle that must have been going on all night. We are benefiting from what was hurricane Fay, now just a rain storm working its way up the East coast. This is not yet enough rain to end the drought that has affected our area for over a year, but I am hopeful that our water tables will recover with the promise of yet another hurricane on its way.

Each day the seedlings grow stronger, and my hope that this third crop attempt will be successful, also grows stronger. The beds are rich and ready for these medicinal perennial herbs to be planted this fall.

How to Harvest Medicinal Herbs

The most rewarding aspect of growing herbs is the harvest. While herbs for seasoning can be harvested throughout the growing season, medicinal herbs should be harvested at the optimal time to produce an effective medicine. As with all things herbal, there are exceptions to these guidelines and always keeping wildcrafting ethics in mind.

Herbs:
The tops of plants including leaf, bud, and flowers, should be harvested just as the flowers begin to open. Soft stemmed plants such as basil and echinecea can be pruned more severely than woody plants. Woody plants such as rosemary and thyme will not survive if they lose more than half of their mass. Harvest should occur before midday, especially if you are trying to preserve essential oil content. If the 'herba' is to be dried for storage, the harvest should be timed after the dew dries off of the leaves. When harvesting in the wild, only forage ten percent of the existing crop. The rest will produce seed for future generations.

Radix/Root:
Roots are typically harvested in the Fall when the nutrients and energy have descended into the roots of the plants. Shake the earth that has adhered to the roots back into the hole and smooth out disturbed areas and cover with leaves or mulch. Only abundant wild crops should be harvested for the root of the plant.

Cortex/Bark:
This is a process best demonstrated by a skilled herbalist. Trees can heal themselves, so long as small amounts of bark are taken during a time when the tree is not stressed by drought. Cuts should be up and down the tree rather than around the tree. If the bark is removed all the way around the trunk, the tree will die.

Semen/Seeds:
It can be quite tricky harvesting seeds in a timely manner. Gardeners are often competing with birds that are paying more attention than we are. Often seeds can be harvested before they completely mature and allowed to dry in a well ventilated sack. Another method to try involves tying panty hose around the seed head in the garden until they mature. Heavy rains would be a setback to this method, as the seeds may rot.

Once harvested, herbs must be dried, or made into medicines quickly to maintain their active chemical contituents. Learn more at www.SwanCreekFarm.com

Natural Remedies for Travel

Nothing is worse than being sick or hurt when traveling. The trick to assembling a useful traveling first-aid-kit is making sure that it is compact, and has multi-functional remedies to combat many types of health crisis that you may encounter while traveling. These are 5 remedies you should never leave home without:

1.) Lavender Essential Oil is available at any well stocked health food store. It is one of the few essential oils that you would use without diluting. It is highly anti-viral, and can be applied below the nose and around the neck to avoid catching a cold or flu while flying. Here are some other ways that Lavender EO can be used:

• for any type of burn, sunburn, or scald it works much like aloe
• removes the pain from stings and bug bites
• is anti-bacterial and can be used on cuts and scrapes
• stops painful muscle spasms, helps relax tense muscles
• can help you go to sleep in a strange place
• can relieve stress when you are in new situations
• can be used in a hot bath at the onset of a cold to release exterior pathogens much like echinacea does
• can be applied to the temples to relieve a headache
  

2.) Rescue Remedy is a Bach flower essence remedy that can be purchased at any health food store. It is essential in any crisis situation, for trauma, or for shock. It calms those who are overwhelmed or suffering with an anxiety attack. It is gentle enough to use with children and animals.
3.) GSE, or Grapefruit Seed Extract, can be added (just a few drops) when you are traveling overseas, or are leery of the drinking water. Contaminated water is one of the leading causes of illness for travelers. It's best to resort to bottled water, but if none is available and there is no way to boil water, GSE will kill bacteria, such as E. coli, cholera and salmonella. Most well-stocked health food stores will have a small bottle of GSE available.
4.) Charcoal capsules are also available at health food stores. Charcoal will absorb bacteria and viruses in the gut. It can be used preventative if you fear that you have been exposed to a bug, or on the onset of digestive upsets.
5.) Curing Pills formula is an ancient Chinese formula used to treat any type of digestive upset from over-eating and bloating to nausea and diarrhea. They are a cure all for any digestive disorder and will restore the digestive system after a stomach virus. They are non-toxic and can be taken by children.